Working with the owner/developers and a team of artists, architects and native plants experts, the rugged natural character of farm and floodplain was preserved even as residential and commercial environments were built. The innate qualities of the site are reflected in the new developments.
In addition to oaks, bald cypress and other large trees for shade, a mix of smaller ornamental trees and shrubs add color through the seasons. Possumhaws provide color and berries for the birds in winter, followed by the fragrant blooms of Mexican plum in the spring and bright yellow golden raintree blossoms in summer. Tall wax myrtle hedges love the old railroad drainage ditch, and Eastern red cedars and Arizona cypresses create screening on the high-and-dry west side.
Squint your eyes and you could be on a bike trail in Holland or Germany–the Katy Trail is one of Dallas’ most popular parks, even though it’s only about 30 feet wide!
On half of the Frito-Lay corporate campus in Plano, TX, we used perennials collected from the co-founder’s personal garden to memorialize the founder. For the employee lunch area, a Jens Jensen-style council ring was designed in cooperation with architect Dan Shipley. Native Texas limestone walls and steps cascade down the slopes, intermingled with flowering perennials and shade trees.